(LE FLORIDIEN) — Haitian-Americans have had an impact on Florida’s Government over the past twenty years. It all started in 1993 with Philippe Derose in our very own Miami-Dade County, where he was the first Haitian-American elected into public office of The United States of America in modern times. He was Councilman of the Village of El Portal and in 2000 he went on to become Mayor.
The advancement continues this year’s election because many Haitian-American women will be on the State Primary Election ballots, August 18. It’s time to get to know a little bit about them so you can make informed decisions at the polls while also supporting the Haitian community. Le Floridien will start with part one of our two-part coverage of the candidates. Primaries are August 18th.
Dr. Marie Flore Lindor-Latortue, District 7, School Board: A well-known activist, educator and parent of children in the school district, Dr. Lindor-Latortue considers herself “a Watchdog leader, an engaged parent, and a passionate teacher.” She has previously helped many candidates in the local community, including Haitian-Americans and others. She feels that the important issues are more representation, expansion of services, rotation of talents, changing the status quo and broadening the perception and the enhancement of education. Her work experience ranges from Kindergarten and elementary education to higher education, where she has taught at multiple local colleges. Her doctorate is in Higher Education from Barry University. Dr. Lindor-Latortue was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti and has been a resident of Miami for 27 years.
Marie Woodson, District 101, State House: As a former Public Administrator who has helped to impact so many lives, Democrat Marie Woodson has lived in District 101 for 26 years and knows her community. She is running on a platform of education, economic recovery, and healthcare. She would like to see unemployment reform that works for everyone, increased funding for public schools and affordable healthcare. According to FLAPOL, she said “For too long, the actions of some [of] our statewide elected officials have served the interests of the wealthy. I will create solutions for all Floridians that benefit working people, not big corporations, provide healthcare for all, not just those who can afford it, and support an education system that leads to success for all students.”
Dotie Joseph, District 108, State Representative: Joseph is running for re-election and before that served as First Vice-Chair of the Miami-Dade Democratic Party, worked for Barack Obama as a volunteer attorney and was president of the Haitian Lawyers Association. “As a black woman, and as a Haitian immigrant who attended Miami-Dade public schools and went on to obtain an Ivy League education, I hope to serve as a living reminder of what truly makes this country great: opportunity. I will fight for equal access to opportunities for all.” Born in Haiti and raised in Miami, Joseph went to Yale University and the major issues in her mind are affordable housing, quality education, affordable healthcare, safe communities and climate change.
Gepsie Metellus, District 3, Miami-Dade County Commission: One of seven candidates for this seat, Gepsie is the co-founder of the Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center, which aims to help the Haitian community find jobs, apply for citizenship and other services. Metellus said “For the past 30 years, I have worked to address the challenges families face every day in our communities.” Her platform will include neighborhood safety, traffic congestion, poverty rates and affordable housing. According to her website, she says, “As an educator, a community activist, a civic and non-profit leader, my experiences have put me in front of the challenges, the struggles, the suffering, the aspirations, and also the opportunities that exist in District 3.”
Nancy Metayer, Coral Springs Commissioner, Seat 3: A resident of Coral Springs for over 20 years, Metayer is an environmental scientist who has worked for several nonprofit organizations and government agencies. She has worked in response to multiple hurricanes that have hit over the last few years, in addition to working on the Florida Disaster Preparedness Plan. A former intern of Obama, her three core issues are economic growth, public safety, and sustainability.
Linda Julien, Miami Gardens Council, Seat 5: With a Bachelor’s degree from Florida International University and a Master’s degree in Public Admin from FAU. Julien has worked for Miami Dade County as a public servant for the past seven years. She is VP of the Democratic Haitian American Caucus of Florida and works to support local businesses. Her priorities are threefold: economic development, public safety and elderly affairs. She is a firm believer in social change and in helping her community succeed. Julien says, “I’m running to help improve the quality of life for City of Miami Gardens residents.”
As you can see, there are many female Haitian-Americans running in the primaries this year. It is an exciting and important election, as always, and Haiti is well-represented in the state of Florida. These women all exhibit some similar characteristics: strength, caring for community, and passion to make positive changes to the world. Look for part two of Le Floridien’s coverage of Haitian-American female candidates in the next issue.
Dennis Finocchiaro